Patriots’ Aaron Hernandez Out Up to Six Weeks With Ankle Injury

NFL via Getty Images(FOXBOROUGH, Mass.) -- Tight ends are a crucial part of the New England Patriots offense, and their depth at the position has taken a big hit. Tight End Aaron Hernandez will miss up to six weeks with an ankle injury according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.

It is believed Hernandez suffered the injury early in the first quarter of the team's 20-18 loss against the Arizona Cardinals. Hernandez was tied up while blocking on a screen pass, appeared to injure his ankle when another player fell on him as he went to the ground. It has been reported that Hernandez did not break his ankle or any other bone.

"He's part of the game plan the whole week, obviously," tight end Rob Gronkowski said after the game. "He's a great player. You gotta be prepared through -- any time, any situation for anything. We gotta be more prepared and be able to go out and do the offense."

This is a big play to the high-powered Patriots offense. Last season, Hernandez caught 79 passes for 910 yards as well as seven touchdowns. He along with Gronkowski are what make the Patriots offense so hard to handle on most weeks.